Page 883 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 24 February 2009
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make sure that what he is taught here is contemporary language because we need the contemporary slang and those sorts of things from the villages. I do know a word in Croatian but I am told by my adviser not to use it in polite company. I thought I might use it here with Mr Seselja but I will not, because it is a really rude word, just like those thrown across the chamber at me.
I have to say that one thing about multiculturalism in Canberra is that we do it particularly well, we do it with good humour and we do it with an awful lot of affection across the groups. The gala ball, the dinner, call it what you will, that we have each year is evidence of that.
When I was walking along the walkway and saw the food and dance spectacular, I heard young people saying to their friends, “Come and see my embassy’s stall,” or, “Come and have something to eat at my country’s food stall.” We had people from, for example, Venezuela and Ecuador, setting up. It was the first time they had ever been here. People actually went along and enjoyed that. We are seeing multiculturalism taking hold amongst the young people as well as some of the older people. That is the magic part about living here. It is the multicultural community; it is full of harmony, goodwill and joyous celebration of things that are different.
Lastly, Mr Speaker, I indicate to you that the festival director, Kabu Okai-Davies, actually became an Australian citizen smack in the middle of the festival. I thought that was a wonderful demonstration. We were, very fortunately, able to confirm citizenship in the middle of our festival. I thought it was a joyous time. We look forward to a bigger and better one next year.
Mr Stanhope: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Supplementary answers to questions without notice
Land—rent scheme
MS GALLAGHER: Mr Speaker, I have a matter outstanding from question time. In answer to Mr Doszpot’s question, strangely enough pretty much the exact same question was asked of the then Treasurer on 16 May 2008 by Mr Seselja. So Mr Seselja perhaps could have answered Mr Doszpot’s question. If the undergraduate questioning is going to continue—which is, do I know every question that was answered by a previous Treasurer 15 months ago?—then let’s begin. Throw it at me. I am going to read them all; I will rehearse them; I will be able to table them again. Continue your strategy. I table the information that has already been provided to the opposition so that they can read it again.
Land Rent Scheme—Estimates 2008-2009—
Answer to question No E08-006.
Answer to question taken on notice on 16 May 2008.
MR DOSZPOT: On a point of clarification, Treasurer, my question was to you and whether you had asked for any modelling since you had been Treasurer. The question was not about past Treasurers.
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